Join advocates, allied professionals, and community members from around the Commonwealth as we explore trauma informed advocacy across the social ecological model and learn more about the impact of trauma on survivors, our agencies, and ourselves. There will be ample time for relaxation and rejuvenation on the beautiful site of Sweet Briar College.
Dates: June 18-20
Location: Sweet Briar College, Virginia
Cost: $375 (includes lodging on June 18 and 19 and meals June 18-20). The Catalyst Awards dinner is included with your full Retreat registration fee. (Action Alliance members receive a discount, so please call us at 804.377.0335 to find out how to get your discount!)
Questions? Email training@vsdvalliance.org or call 804.377.0335.
RETREAT SCHEDULE
June 18, 2013
9:00-12:00
Pre Retreat Institute: Identifying, Investigating, and Prosecuting Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Cases
Presented by: Gael Strack, JD and Ralph Riviello, MD of the Family Justice Center Alliance National Strangulation Training Institute
The Family Justice Center Alliance Strangulation Training Institute presents a 3 hour training for advocates, law enforcement, healthcare service providers, and allied professionals to build their capacity to identify signs and symptoms of strangulation cases, understand the medical and legal implications of strangulation, and investigate and prosecute strangulation related to intimate partner violence and sexual violence.
The Pre-Retreat Institute is free for Retreat participants, but you must register for the institute. Cost to attend the institute only is $30 and includes breakfast and materials.
The Strangulation Pre-Retreat Institute is made possible by generous funding from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund and Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Grant #13-K4192VA12.
1:00-1:30
Opening and Welcome
1:30-3:00
The Day After: How Understanding Trauma Promotes Healthy Survivors, Helpers, and Organizations Focused on Hope, Healing and Recovery
Keynote Address Presented by: Rachel Ramirez, Ohio Domestic Violence Network
We all know that our experiences impact us in a variety of different ways. Events, whether positive or negative, can alter our behaviors, thoughts, feelings, or view of ourselves and the world. This impact is felt not only by survivors of domestic and sexual violence, but also by advocates, helpers, and the organizations tasked to support and assist them. The session will focus on how providing services grounded in an understanding of trauma benefits survivors, staff, and agencies. We will be challenged in this session to think about not only what we need to do with survivors of domestic and sexual violence, but also addressing how we need to be with survivors approaching us at extremely vulnerable points in their lives. Participants will leave the session with concrete strategies to attend to the needs of all of us working with trauma and its impact, and with some new ideas about how to do this work in a compassionate, empowering, empathetic way.
Rachel Ramirez is the Training Coordinator for the Ohio Domestic Violence Network. She began her work in the domestic violence movement nine years ago at a large domestic violence organization in Florida as a bilingual shelter advocate and a bilingual children’s case manager. After relocating to Ohio, Rachel coordinated the Ohio Hispanic Coalition’s domestic violence program for Spanish speakers, and worked with the Ohio Department of Health’s Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Prevention Program, focusing on issues relating to domestic violence, sexual assault, and mental health. Since 2007, Rachel has been ODVN’s training coordinator, and has presented to hundreds of groups on multiple topics related to domestic violence, In addition, Rachel co-authored Trauma-Informed Care: Protocols and Best Practices for Ohio’s Domestic Violence Programs and has trained extensively on trauma both within Ohio and an across the country. Fluent in Spanish, Rachel has her MA in Latin American Studies, her MSW from the Ohio State University, and is a licensed independent social worker.
3:30-5:30
Action Alliance Membership Meeting
6:30-8:30
Catalyst Awards Dinner
Catalyst: one whose enthusiasm and energy precipitates significant positive change
Join us to celebrate this year's Catalyst Award winners at a special dinner on Tuesday night. This year's group of awardees represent individuals and organizations who are committed to addressing and ending sexual and intimate partner violence across the Commonwealth. The Catalyst Awards Dinner is free for Retreat Participants and $25 to attend without registering for the Retreat.
June 19, 2013
9:00-10:30 Workshop Session A
Body Sculpting: A Drama Therapy
Presented by: Stephanie Hodde, Child Services Coordinator, Project Horizon
This training will teach participants the theory and basics of body sculpting as a drama therapy for group work with trauma survivors or as self care for advocates working with survivors. A widely-used creative method that has been workshopped nationally by Michael Rohd of Hope is Vital, as well as internationally via the Theater of the Oppressed (Augusto Boal) this method has been practiced with incarcerated survivors as well as children and families of domestic / sexual violence.
Rapid Re-housing and Prevention Programs
Presented by: Nichele Carver, Housing Program Manager for the Homeless and Special Needs Housing Unit, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
Both Rapid Re-housing and Prevention programs have been a proven method for assisting individuals and families about to become homeless or currently experiencing homelessness. Survivors of domestic violence can benefit from both programs by accessing funding and support resources to quickly become stably housed in a safe affordable housing situation.
Data Roundtable – Balancing services with data entry
Presented by: Nancy Fowler, Program Manager, Virginia Department of Social Services and Sherrie Goggans, Resources Coordinator, Action Alliance
Every interaction with your clients now requires data collection. Every phone call, every client meeting, support group, accompaniment…
Let’s talk about what’s working and what’s not. Hopefully you will discover a way to find balance between services and data.
Building Assets While Incorporating Prevention
Presented by: Emily Nalls, Manager of the Teen Violence Prevention Program, Loudon Citizens for Social Justice/Loudon Abused Women's Shelter
This workshop will emphasize opportunities to incorporate the 40 Developmental Assets with primary prevention programs in various settings to maximize the program benefit. With an interactive set up, round table discussions will supplement learning materials. A closing discussion will focus on networking and mobilizing community resources to reflect additional opportunities to facilitate fun, creative and enriching prevention programs.
Using Pet Abuse Awareness to Fight Domestic Violence
Presented by: Michele Laaksonen, Sexual Assault Clinician, Harbor Hope Consulting
88% of companion animals living in households where domestic violence occurs are routinely threatened, harmed, or even killed. Therefore, both the animal care and domestic violence communities must collaborate in order to provide comprehensive, informed care to victims of domestic violence. This program will explain the relationship between pet and domestic violence and how understanding the relationship can improve work with clients.
Sexual Assault Response Teams (SART): Basics and Beyond
Presented by: Kristina Vadas, Sexual Assault Program Coordinator, Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
This workshop will include a brief overview of whom and what comprise a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). Discussion will include what makes a SART unique and unlike other coordinated community response or multidisciplinary teams. Evidence of SART effectiveness will be explored, and the importance of team member participation in the SART will be highlighted.
10:45-12:00 Workshop Session B
Responding to Child Abuse and Elder Abuse
Presented by: Nancy Fowler, Program Manager, Virginia Department of Social Services and Susheela Varky, Staff Attorney, Virginia Poverty Law Center
Many programs include in their confidentiality statements an exception to their pledge of confidentiality in cases of child abuse and/or elder abuse. Some Personnel Policies state that all staff are mandated to report child abuse and/or elder abuse. How do programs balance their local policies with their interpretation of Virginia’s Mandated Reporter laws and with Federal VAWA and FVPSA confidentiality provisions?
Zumba
Presented by: Dr. Nicki Lee
ZUMBA is a fusion of Latin and International music - dance themes creating a dynamic, exciting, effective fitness system! The routines feature aerobic/fitness interval training with a combination of fast and slow rhythms that tone and sculpt the body. Zumba utilizes the principals of fitness interval training and resistance training to maximize caloric output, fat burning and total body toning. It is a mixture of body sculpting movements with easy to follow dance steps and is based on the principle that a workout should be "FUN AND EASY TO DO". Wear comfortable clothing and shoes and join us!
Broadening Our Expectations: Effectively Working With Survivors With Disabilities
Presented by: Ellen Watts, Disability Services Coordinator and Katrina Flowers, Director of Client Services, Project Horizon
This workshop will include information on the various types of disabilities and how to effectively work with survivors based on their disabilities. There will be interactive exercises to help advocates understand the challenges that survivors with disabilities face. There will also be role plays involving various scenarios to help advocates become more comfortable addressing issues surrounding survivors with disabilities.
Taking on Trauma: Best Practices and Protocols for Ohio's Domestic Violence Programs
Presented by: Rachel Ramirez, Training Coordinator, Ohio Domestic Violence Network
This session will be an opportunity for participants to learn more about the work done in Ohio on trauma and trauma-informed approaches and Ohio's manual, Best Practices and Protocols for Ohio's Domestic Violence Programs. Following up on the keynote address by Rachel, this session will focus on the development of the manual and why it was written, how it can be used in individual and organizational settings, and ways in which shifting to a trauma-informed approach has worked for different agencies in Ohio. Certain sections of the manual will be highlighted to emphasize the ways in which all of us are empowered to make services more sensitive to the specific needs of trauma survivors. Come with questions and thoughts to share with others!
Providing culturally-appropriate sexual assault services to individuals currently or previously incarcerated
Presented by: Michele Laaksonen, Assault Clinician, Harbor Hope Consulting
Currently, high rates of sexual assault occur within the prison system both because of the legal inability for offenders to consent and also because of coercion, threats, and physical tactics used by offenders to commit sexual assault against other inmates. Despite the secretive nature of sexual assault, legislation and correctional policies have been established to reduce sexual assault. Unfortunately, there is often times a lack of cross-education among professionals and continuum of care for victims between corrections and the community.
Implementing Safe Dates Curriculum to Prevent Teen Dating Violence
Presented by: Robert Franklin, Sexual and Domestic Violence Community Outreach Coordinator, Virginia Department of Health
This workshop will discuss the scope and impact of teen dating violence and provide participants with tools needed to address the issue using the Safe Dates Curriculum. Participants willing to implement and participate in a six month follow-up survey, will receive a free copy of the Safe Dates curriculum (a $225.00 value)
1:30-3:00
Camp Mabon: A Journey with Mother Nature; A Trauma Informed Weekend Retreat for Survivors
Presented by: Deb Downing
Learn about how this weekend retreat for survivors was designed and how it transforms survivors into thrivors. Experience some of the trauma informed activities. Come away with information and ideas to use with the survivors and support groups you work with.
Developing and Delivering Healthy Relationship Skills Classes for LGBTQ Communities
Presented by: Maria Altonen, Richmond Area Partnership Project Coordinator, Action Alliance/Virginia Anti-Violence Project
In this workshop service providers will be trained on addressing the misconceptions and challenges which are barriers to creating healthy relationships, as well as what this means in regards to the LGBTQ community. We will facilitate discussion, group conversation, and interactive activities.
DO YOU: Building Youth Resilience Through Creative Expression
Presented by: Sanu Dieng, Prevention Education and Community Relations Coordinator, Transitions Family Violence Services and Kate McCord, Communications Director, Action Alliance
Learn about Do You, a new primary prevention campaign designed to build resilience, promote positive development and build healthy relationships among teens ages 14-16.
The campaign activates protective factors through creative expression to stop violence (dating and sexual violence, sexual harassment, and bullying) before it starts.
Participants will gain an understanding of the risk and protective factors affecting youth in Virginia, learn about the importance of creative expression in building resilience among teens, learn how DO You integrates these concepts, and find out how to implement the campaign locally.
Take Back the Tech
Presented by: Sherrie Goggans, Resources Coordinator, Action Alliance and Kristine Hall, Policy Director, Action Alliance with Luis Martinez, Hotline Crisis Services Specialist, Action Alliance
We have all heard the horror stories of batterers’ use of technology to stalk, abuse, and control survivors – and we are going to talk about that, and we are going to talk about technology safety planning. But we are also going to offer you tips for using technology as a resource, a means to expand options, decrease isolation, and give voice to our fundamental right to express ourselves.
Intersections of Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking: Partnership Model between Safe Harbor and The Gray Heaven Project
Presented by: Carolina Velez, Sexual and Domestic Violence Counselor, Safe Harbor and Josh Bailey, Director, The Gray Heaven Project
This workshop will allow participants to learn about the identification, assessment and services of survivors of human trafficking. Participants will be presented with our partnership model project between a local dual program and a human trafficking organization.
Movement Herstory
Presented by: Kristi VanAudenhove, Director, Action Alliance
We will explore the intersections of the violence against women movement, the civil rights movement and other anti-violence work and liberation movements. By acknowledging and understanding our herstory, we will continue to build a framework from which to guide our movement forward.
3:15-4:45
Yoga
Presented by: Barb Germershausen, Simply Yoga
Warm-up stretches and simple yoga postures combined with basic breathing exercises make this class a welcome introduction for students of all ages and body types. Participants will be led through a gentle yoga routine resulting in an overall sense of calm and relaxation. If you are new to yoga, do not be intimidated by what you may have seen in books or videos. This is a very approachable style of yoga.
There’s More to Evaluating Your Program than a Post-test: Concrete How-to’s to Get the Data You Need to Improve your Programs
Presented by: Kristen Morrow, Empowerment Evaluator, Action Alliance and Liz Cascone, Advocacy Manager, Action Alliance
This workshop will demonstrate easy and effective ways to evaluate your programs. You’ll learn to develop evaluation tools, implement them effectively, and what to do with the data once you’ve collected it. You’ll walk in with questions and walk out with concrete answers and useful tools.
Home Sweet Home
Presented by: Christe Marra, Staff Attorney, Virginia Poverty Law Center and Deanna Lavery, Housing Opportunities Made Equal
The workshop explains the basics of Virginia landlord and tenant laws, federal and Virginia fair housing laws and the federally subsidized rental housing programs. The presenters will highlight special rules and protections for sexual and domestic violence victims and survivors in each of these areas. Participants will also review a model lease that can be provided to victims and the landlords from whom they rent.
Creating Culturally Competent Services for LGBTQ Youth
Presented by: Lee Steube, Youth Programs Director, ROSMY and Stacie Vecchietti, Community Organizing Manager, Safe Harbor
This workshop will train community-based service providers on the needs of LGBTQ youth as they relate to experiences of sexual/dating violence. This session will further build the capacity of local agencies to provide culturally appropriate and accessible services for LGBTQ youth. Join us for an exciting conversation and interactive training that will explore best practices and how to be an effective community ally and source of positive social change for Virginia’s LGBTQ youth!
Art in Response to Violence
Presented by: Carol Olson, Director, Creative Arts Space
This presentation will focus on the use of art as a healing tool within the industry of response to sexually violent crimes. Carol incorporates the experience of artistic creation into her work with survivors of violence at three levels: clinical work, community advocacy, and staff support.
Discovering the Hero Within: Using a Trauma-Informed Rite of Passage Paradigm to Facilitate the Healing Journey
Presented by: Michele Zehr, Founder, WE2, LLC, Women's Experiential Empowerment
Using what Joseph Campbell refers to as the monomyth or Hero’s Journey, I will offer a paradigm for working with survivors that will aid them in viewing themselves as the Hero of their lives instead of victims, where they have the power to choose a different path while also coming to terms with recognizing that they must be willing to let the parts of themselves that no longer serve them “to die” in order for new parts of themselves to “be born.” The ultimate message is one of personal transformation, which can only occur if one is willing to travel into the dark in order to find the light, and survivors of interpersonal violence have on many levels already experienced the dark.
5:00-7:00
Task Force and Caucus Reception
8:00-10:00
Fun Night Celebrations!
June 20, 2013
9:00-10:30
Reaching New Horizons an Enriching Endeavor
Presented by: Katrina Flowers, Director of Client Services, Project Horizon and Emily Brown, Residential Services Coordinator, Project Horizon
This workshop will explain the meaning of Enrichment Activities that can be used with survivors you work with in your programs. Participants will learn the importance of such activities in helping and supporting trauma survivors. They will also learn how to plan and incorporate these activities into their voluntary services as well as take with them several examples of creative enrichment activity ideas. During this workshop participants will have the chance to take part in an enrichment activity.
The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003: Sexual Abuse in Correctional Settings-- What Crisis Counselors Need to Know
Presented by: Jaime Yarussi, Assistant Director, The Project on Addressing Prison Rape
The Washington College of Law, American University
During this session participants will get an overview of the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA) and discuss the impact of the PREA standards on medical and mental health care for incarcerated or formerly incarcerates survivors of sexual abuse.
Identifying and serving the needs of our undocumented and/or documented immigrant DV/SV clients (part one of a two part workshop)
Presented by: Susheela Varky, Staff Attorney, Virginia Poverty Law Center, Carolina Velez, Sexual and Domestic Violence Counselor, Safe Harbor
Participants will explore the diversity of immigrant survivors' experiences including the unique challenges faced by documented and undocumented survivors who are immigrants. This workshop will provide information related to available immigration remedies for survivors covering a variety of visa options.
Introducing A2J: An On-Line Tool to Help People Prepare Divorce Documents
Presented by: Christe Marra, Staff Attorney, Virginia Poverty Law Center and John Whitfield, Executive Director/General Counsel, Blue Ridge Legal Services
This workshop will introduce the attendees to a new on-line program for people who don’t have attorneys, which is available for free on the statewide legal aid website. The two presenters, who helped develop the content for the program, will demonstrate how to use the program and discuss how victims and survivors can use the program to reduce the cost of getting a divorce.
10:45-12:15
Strategic Thinking for Directors and Managers
Presented by: Kristi VanAudenhove, Director, Action Alliance
Carving out time and space for strategic thinking can be challenging yet rewarding. This workshop will create an opportunity to learn the value of strategic thinking and identify concrete strategies that you can use immediately in strategic planning, visioning, and thinking about how your agency conducts its work and how you can best move that work forward.
Collaborating to Address PREA Standards in Virginia
Presented by: Rose Durbin, PREA Analyst, Virginia Department of Corrections and Carmen Williams, Hotline Manager, Action Alliance
Virginia Department of Corrections is currently engaged in building its capacity to effectively implement the PREA standards as related to corrections facilities. This workshop will provide an overview of Virginia's efforts including highlighting a project with the Action Alliance to provide hotline and victim advocacy response to people who experience sexual violence while incarcerated.
Identifying and serving the needs of our undocumented and/or documented immigrant DV/SV clients (part two of a two part workshop)
Presented by: Susheela Varky, Staff Attorney, Virginia Poverty Law Center and Carolina Velez, Sexual and Domestic Violence Counselor, Safe Harbor
After a client has applied for a visa, what to expect? How can we serve them as they wait for their visas to be processed? How do we serve them after they have been approved or denied? Find out strategies to navigate public resources for survivors who are immigrants including driver's licenses, public benefits, and housing options.
Assessment for Reproductive Coercion in Shelter Residents
Presented by: Laurie Crawford, Sexual and Domestic Violence Healthcare Outreach Coordinator, Virginia Department of Health
This session will examine the concept of reproductive coercion, providing excerpts from the half day Project Connect training for domestic/sexual violence program staff.
Trauma Informed Advocacy – Practical Applications
Presented by: Alice Twining, Licensed Clinical and Forensic Psychologist
After a brief review of the science/theory behind Trauma-Informed Advocacy, this workshop will: 1) explore mindfulness and relationship-building in the context of Dutton’s ecological model; 2) increase our ability to meet people as individuals who are striving for self-determination through connection and growth; 3) expand our methods of interaction for effective change.
This event was posted by Action Alliance.
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